Jeddah Book Fair set to showcase rising Saudi literary scene

The event reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a cultural hub attracting major publishers, content creators and investors. (SPA)
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Updated 09 December 2025
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Jeddah Book Fair set to showcase rising Saudi literary scene

  • This year’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage, with over 170 events including lectures, panel discussions and workshops

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is preparing to host the Jeddah Book Fair from Dec. 11 to 20 at Jeddah Superdome, bringing together more than 1,000 local and international publishing houses and agencies from 24 countries across 400 booths. 

Held under the slogan “Jeddah Reads,” the fair is part of the commission’s “Saudi Reads” campaign, which seeks to strengthen the Saudi literary landscape by encouraging reading and creating meaningful engagement between authors and audiences.  




Jeddah Book Fair’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage. (Supplied/@saudibookfairs)

Dr. Abdullatif Al-Wasil, CEO of the commission, said the Jeddah Book Fair reflects the leadership’s continued commitment to cultural development and the rapid growth of the Kingdom’s literature, publishing and translation sector.

He highlighted the fair’s interactive programs for publishers, authors, translators and the public, which are designed to enhance content quality, support creative development and foster knowledge partnerships.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Jeddah Book Fair seeks to strengthen the Saudi literary landscape by encouraging reading and creating meaningful engagement between authors and audiences.  

• It will host prominent writers, thinkers and cultural figures from Saudi Arabia and abroad, offering a 10-day schedule of literary, intellectual and scientific events. 

• The fair will continue to support emerging Saudi voices through the Saudi Authors’ Corner for self-published writers.

The event also reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a cultural hub attracting major publishers, content creators and investors.

This year’s cultural program reflects the Kingdom’s heritage, with over 170 events including lectures, panel discussions and workshops. A dedicated children’s zone will feature literary and entertainment activities tailored to young visitors, along with competitions to inspire reading and creativity.

The fair will host prominent writers, thinkers and cultural figures from Saudi Arabia and abroad, offering a 10-day schedule of literary, intellectual and scientific events. 

Book-signing stations will give readers the chance to meet their favorite authors, while cultural organizations, community groups and universities will present their latest publications and initiatives.  

A manga and anime zone will highlight collectibles from the genre, alongside specialized books. A discounted books section will also be available to promote wider access to reading.  

The fair will continue to support emerging Saudi voices through the Saudi Authors’ Corner for self-published writers, where hundreds of titles across literary and cultural fields will be showcased, underscoring the fair’s role in nurturing local talent and enriching the Kingdom’s evolving literary scene.

 


Saudi Arabia looks to become carbon trading hub for Global South

Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia looks to become carbon trading hub for Global South

  • Kingdom eyes partnerships with Asian companies

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia is looking to become a carbon trading hub for the Global South and is eyeing partnerships with Asian companies to trade on its exchange, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper has reported.

Saudi Arabia’s Voluntary Carbon Market recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese trading house Marubeni “for collaboration on carbon markets,” and has also linked up with Climate Bridge International, a Singapore-headquartered carbon finance company, as an advisory partner.

Fadi Saadeh, acting CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Voluntary Carbon Market company, said it was important for Saudi Arabia to have a market to trade carbon credits that arise from the phasing out of coal.

A carbon credit represents a tonne of CO2 or CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases reduced or removed by verified projects like reforestation or carbon removal schemes. In the voluntary carbon market, companies can buy the credits to offset their emissions to meet their net-zero goals, while the sellers of the credits can use the funds received to invest in more green projects.

VCM was set up in 2022 by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the Saudi Tadawul Group, the country's exchange operator.

Saadeh said VCM was geographically well located to capture demand from the Global South and could leverage existing relationships and investments that companies like Saudi Aramco have forged over the years.

“In Saudi Arabia three years ago there were zero project developers for carbon credits,” Saadeh said. “Today, because of VCM and the ecosystem around the world, we have more than 25 project developers in Saudi Arabia.” He added that the energy transition would take time.